It is apparent that Buster has not had a very good life. Although he was rescued from a shelter, I would believe he was dumped there when no longer wanted by a puppy miller. He doesn't appear to have had any real loving contact or to have ever had the luxury of being someone's beloved pet. Poor little guy is going to need someone that is willing to continue loving him and giving him lots of time to feel safe and to know that those days are over and he will never be discarded like so much garbage again. I picture him with someone that is retired or is home most of the time, so they have the time to really devote to helping Buster continue on his path of healing. Buster is approximately 5 years old and weighs just over 8 lbs but is still underweight.
Here is what his foster family had to say:
Buster thrives on love and cuddles and his little face is so adorable it's difficult to resist holding him all the time. He is very observant and aware of his surroundings. When he first arrived at my house, he watched what my 2 dogs did and then copied whatever they did. I think this little guy is a survivor as he seemed really sad for the first few weeks that he was with me. This past week he has perked up and seems more happy. He is now hopping up beside me and will give my hands a few tentative licks in the mornings. He's started wagging the stub of his tail when he knows we're going for a walk and is slowly becoming a happy little fellow.
Buster seems healthy, but is very skinny. He has gained some weight over the last month. He enjoys his walks very much and likes to run if given the chance but he settles nicely once in the house. He does not shed very much at all. If he is kept groomed I don't expect this to be an issue at all. He does not seek out other people's attention but will accept petting from others. He hasn't spent too much time around children except for ones we've seen in the park. He hasn't reacted to anyone negatively. He has not shown any shyness but he is a bit slow to warm up. He responds best if he is allowed to initiate contact first. He is curious and will approach people if given a few minutes to observe what's going on around him.
He gets along well with other dogs if he knows that they belong with us. He has no problems with my 2 dogs and I dog-sat my friend's lab for a few days on the March break and Buster got along fine with her. The problem is that he goes into a frenzied panic when he sees another dog when out on walks. He runs in circles barking at the top of his lungs, growling etc. He keeps this behaviour up until the dog is well out of sight. There have been 2 incidents when we were on a walk where a smaller dog came near him and he snapped at both of them without even trying to sniff. I believe wholeheartedly that he was attacked by another dog while on a walk at some point in his life.
He is too small to counter surf and does not do anything destructive and shows no interest in chewing anything - not even dog toys. He only knows "come". He would benefit from some dog training. When Buster first came into my care it was obvious that he had never been in a house and was not house trained. I would describe him as house trained and as long as I am home with him there are no accidents any longer but when I leave the house, he will pee. Even though he is quiet, he has anxiety about being left alone which is why he pees when I leave. I believe if I was at home, he would not have any accidents at all. I use the xpen. He is sad to go in but only half heartedly protests. He goes crazy when I get home, whining, barking and jumping on his hind legs. I think he was crated before but was probably left in his crate for very long periods. (Just a note that the Rescue Team believes he has lived his entire life in a crate in a puppy mill)
He barks if he hears noises outside. He goes into a barking frenzy and attacks the vacuum cleaner when it is on (basically the same thing he does when he sees another dog on a walk except that he isn't leashed, so he actually lunges and bites the vacuum cleaner nozzle). He barks at the coffee grinder (although I am having some success at training him out of this one). I think it is going to take him a little longer to get used to all the every day things that go on in and around the home.
He loves to go on walks. When I get his harness out he "dances" on his hind legs and can't wait to get outside. It is the most positive emotion I've seen him display. He also loves to curl up beside me and snuggle. He likes his liver treats too. He's not interested in commercial dog treats but will line up with my dogs for a little cube of boiled liver. Because he only weighs 7lbs, his pulling isn't very noticeable but he requires training. I think an obedience class would be helpful. Whoever adopts him will have to very careful as he bolted from my yard on a morning that I was already late for work. I would suggest obedience training for this as well. I don't think he has had very many experiences in a car prior to being with me. He watches out the window and whines constantly. We are working on learning how to sit quietly. He doesn't know how to jump into the car either, which is funny because he can jump up on furniture.
This little guy really needs an experienced dog owner who is patient, gentle, consistent and dedicated to his training and socialization. He is so cute and friendly looking that I'm sure he will be a popular pet once he is put online. I've only had one other foster dog that I've been concerned about his placement. I'm worried about Buster and I want him to have a happy life because he is a great little dog and I've seen a big improvement with his behaviour since he's been with me (and I'm a sucker for "hard knock" cases). I think Buster needs to be in a quieter home where someone is at home with him for most of the day and preferably with no small children. This will help him to be successful with housetraining. He will need someone who is experienced with dogs and who is patient and willing to work with him on the issues that I've mentioned.
If you think you have it in your heart to give a forever home to this sweet little boy, please submit an application for consideration.
